A HISTORY OF:A HISTORY OF: IMMIGRATION TO CANADA IMMIGRATION TO CANADA

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

• Throughout the history of Canada there has been intolerance, discrimination, or unequal treatment towards minority groups (non-British or non-white)

• Examples during 1500s-1800s included:– First Nations– French-speaking Canadians (or Quebecois)

• Discrimination against many different groups continued in the 20th Century (1900s)

• Why?• Many Canadians were ethnocentric and disliked

“outsiders” because they were seen as a threat to Canadian culture

What Happened to the…….?What Happened to the…….?

• Chinese?!• Find a partner to discuss

what you remember about Chinese immigration to Canada during the 1800s and 1900s.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADACHINESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADA• First Reason for coming to Canada?• Gold Rush• Chinese were discriminated against and were only

allowed to look for gold in areas that had been already abandoned by others.

• Second Reason for Coming to Canada?• Railway• Chinese helped to build the CPR across Canada. • Received much lower wages than others; no

equipment was provided; harsh working conditions.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADACHINESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADA• After the CPR was completed,

Canada created the Chinese Head Tax in 1885 – all Chinese immigrants were forced to pay a tax before coming into Canada.

• Purpose? • To reduce/stop Chinese

immigrants.• Tax was increased three

times, but it did not work.

CHINESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADACHINESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADA• Chinese Exclusion Act of 1923 – Canadian government

passed a law to completely stop all Chinese immigration.– This replaced the Head Tax.

• Because of Chinese contributions during WWII, the Exclusion Act was cancelled in 1947.

• Chinese were also finally given the vote.• The Canadian government apologized in 2006 for their

actions.

What Happened to the…….?What Happened to the…….?

• Indians?!• Find a partner to

discuss what you remember about Indian immigration to Canada during the 1800s and 1900s.

INDIAN IMMIGRATION TO CANADAINDIAN IMMIGRATION TO CANADA• The Canadian government created the Continuous Passage

Act in 1908, which required all immigrants to Canada to come by a non-stop route.

• Impossible for immigrants from India (no direct routes to Canada).

• The Komagata Maru incident in 1914.• Ship of nearly 400 Indian immigrants arrives from Hong Kong

and is eventually sent back to India (ship did not travel directly from India).

• Canada gives the vote to Indians in 1947 and apologizes in 2008.

““ENEMY ALIENS” DURING WWIENEMY ALIENS” DURING WWI• During WWI, the Canadian government created

severe restrictions against any “enemy aliens”• Enemy Alien: A person living in a country that is at

war with his/her homeland.• Imagine: Canada and China went to war tomorrow.

China would probably consider me an “enemy alien”• Class Discussion: Why would that be a problem?• WWI Enemy Aliens included: Germans, and Austro-

Hungarians (One famous group: Ukrainians)

ENEMY ALIENSENEMY ALIENS

• 80,000 Enemy Aliens in Canada had to register with the government and carry identification.

• Over 8000, mostly Ukrainians, were placed into internment camps where they lost their freedom and were forced to work in difficult conditions.

PARTNER TALKPARTNER TALK• Using the pictures on the next four slides, describe

life in the internment camps for enemy aliens.

JEWISH IMMIGRATION TO CANADAJEWISH IMMIGRATION TO CANADA• During the 1930s, Anti-Semitism [Discrimination against

Jewish people] was widespread in Canada• Large numbers of Jews were escaping Europe because of

Hitler and the Nazis.• These refugees [a person who has lost their home because

of violence or disaster] tried to come to Canada but were seen as a problem for the country.

• Most were refused entry to Canada, and many were even deported.

• Famous example: SS. St. Louis – Ship from Europe with 900 Jewish refugees sent back to Europe

JAPANESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADAJAPANESE IMMIGRATION TO CANADA• Early Japanese immigration was for fishing in BC• Discrimination and racism was common against them• During WWII, Japanese were labeled “enemy aliens”– Germans and Italians were also enemy aliens in WWII

• Actions against them?– Thousands were moved into internment camps and forced to

work.– All their property was taken away and sold– Many were deported back to Japan or forced to move away

from BC

• Program was cancelled in 1948, Japanese allowed to move anywhere in Canada and gain the vote.

• Canada apologized in 1988 and provided $300 million

CHANGING IMMIGRATION POLICYCHANGING IMMIGRATION POLICY• Canada introduces the Points System in 1967• Immigration to Canada becomes “color blind”– Meaning? Race is no longer a factor in immigration

• New factors include:– Age– Education– Language – Work Experience

• Points needed to immigrate, as of 2013: 67.

“ “EXPRESS ENTRY” EXPRESS ENTRY” SYSTEM, 2015SYSTEM, 2015

• Recent changes that place a lot of emphasis on already having a job offer

SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONSMALL GROUP DISCUSSION• If you were in charge of a country, what would you

expect of the immigrants arriving?

MULTICULTURALISM POLICY, 1971MULTICULTURALISM POLICY, 1971

• The Prime Minister of Canada, Pierre Trudeau, establishes an official policy of multiculturalism

The policy would: “support and encourage the various cultures and ethnic groups … to share their cultural expressions and values with other Canadians and so contribute to a richer life for us all.”

CHANGING IMMIGRATION PATTERNSCHANGING IMMIGRATION PATTERNS• Since the 1980s, Canada has encouraged more

immigration and from all over the world.• The location of immigrants is no longer mostly from

Britain and/or the USA.• In order to provide protection for all of these new

immigrants, Canada passed the Multiculturalism Act of 1988.– Act created to protect racial and cultural equality through

law.– It also created a government department for

Multiculturalism

What Do You What Do You Notice?Notice?

CANADA: A COUNTRY NEEDING IMMIGRANTSCANADA: A COUNTRY NEEDING IMMIGRANTS

CANADA IS A “CULTURAL MOSAIC”CANADA IS A “CULTURAL MOSAIC”

• In a “cultural mosaic”, immigrants keep their unique cultures, but also adopt Canadian culture

• Discussion Point: Is this good?